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Cubs sweep Phillies, improve to 20 games over .500

Sometimes understatement is the best gift of all.

Really, what more can be said about the start the Chicago Cubs have given themselves?

Their 7-2 victory Sunday over the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field gave them a three-game sweep of the series and was their fifth win in a row overall, moving their record to 34-14.

Just for comparison's sake, the Cubs did not reach 20 games over .500 last year until Aug. 23 on the way to a 97-win season.

“They're really interesting to watch,” said manager Joe Maddon, beginning the litany of understated statements.

Starting and winning pitcher John Lackey was next.

“We're pretty good, for sure,” said Lackey, who improved to 5-2 by working 7 innings of 4-hit, 1-run ball. “The starting pitching's been pretty good. We've obviously scored a lot of runs. There's still a long way to go, but the potential to do something special is there, for sure.”

The Cubs have swept six series so far this year, and it's only Memorial Day. Maddon has talked about reaching various plateaus, such as 10, 15 and 20 games over .500.

“I'm not trying to be facetious, but (it's) the good start,” Maddon said. “We talked about that in (spring-training) camp, that it was so important to get off to a good start, so we could absorb a little hiccup.”

Ahem. Maddon then reminded everybody of what people were talking about just a few days ago.

“Right now, we're talking about 20 over (. 500), whereas a week ago, we're talking about stubbing our toe a bit,” he said of a now-forgotten rough stretch. “That's what a good start permits you to do. You can stub your toe and still look good. It was not lost on me. I was aware we could be 20 over after today. Now the next goal is 25, obviously. So give our guys credit.”

A big reason for the Cubs' good start is second baseman Ben Zobrist. His 3-run homer in the third inning against Phillies starter Vince Velasquez put the Cubs ahead 5-0. Miguel Montero hit a homer in the second, and the Cubs added 2 more in the fifth.

Zobrist, who turned 35, last Thursday, is playing like a kid. He has a hitting line of .351/.451/.542 with 7 homers, 35 RBI and 32 walks. Zobrist extended a personal hitting streak to 15 games, and he has reached safely in each of his last 34 starts. Of course, the modest Zobrist handled all of this with his accustomed understatement.

“It's just been a great stretch for me so far,” he said.

Maddon says his only worry is running Zobrist into the ground. As much as he likes playing, Zobrist said he appreciates the concern.

“We've already talked about this week, not playing every day this week,” he said. “The end of the last (stretch), we had about nine games before we had an off-day, I was starting to feel it a little bit. So they pulled me out of that game; we were ahead in St. Louis. And that certainly helps, just a few innings off here and there. I can tell when there are times when my body's getting tired and I just need to take a day here or there and make sure I'm healthy. Joe's been really easy about that.”

Both Lackey and Zobrist were key off-season signings, in addition to right fielder Jason Heyward. Zobrist says it's easy to fit in.

“I think the type of people that are in that clubhouse,” he said. “Theo (team president Epstein) and Jed (GM Hoyer) have done a great job of getting the right personnel. Obviously, I knew Joe well, so that helped my comfort level from the start. But the coaching staff, the players, all the guys that have been here awhile and the guys that have come in new, it's just a great, cohesive unit.

“The personalities mesh really well, and I feel that comfort level enables you to do your work and not be looking over your shoulder. It gives you a sense of freedom as a teammate, as a player. I think that's helped create comfort throughout our team.”

Dodgers' high-tech tricks don't bother Cubs' Maddon

Scouting report

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field

TV: WGN Monday; ABC 7 Tuesday; Comcast SportsNet Wednesday and Thursday

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jason Hammel (6-1) vs. Alex Wood (1-3) Monday at 4:05 p.m.; Jake Arrieta (9-0) vs. Scott Kazmir (4-3) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; Jon Lester (5-3) vs. Mike Bolsinger (1-1) Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.; Kyle Hendricks (3-4) vs. Kenta Maeda (4-3) Thursday at 1:20 p.m.

At a glance: The Dodgers come in after playing the Sunday night game in New York against the Mets. They are trying to stay within striking distance of the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. The Cubs miss facing Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who went into Sunday leading the NL in ERA (1.48). The Dodgers had the fourth best ERA (3.52) in the NL entering Sunday, while the Cubs were tops (2.67). Offensively, L.A. is a middle-of-the-pack team. Chase Utley entered Sunday with a line of .296/.386/.453. Corey Seager and Joc Pederson each had 8 homers and 24 RBI.

Next: Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field, Friday-Sunday

— Bruce Miles

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